Re: Bobcats host Bears in Homecoming clash
Eddie Pierce is not asking for too much for a Homecoming present this weekend.
All the head football coach of the Jones County Junior College Bobcats wants is one thing: A victory.
“We have not won a Homecoming game since I’ve been the head coach,” said Pierce, earlier this week. “I would really like to win a Homecoming game. There will be a lot of people on campus and we will have a big crowd.
“But, we just need to win… period.”
The Bobcats, ranked No. 8 in the latest NJCAA/JCFootball.com poll, will host the Southwest Mississippi Community College Bears at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Bobcat Stadium/Sim Cooley Field.
In Pierce’s first Homecoming as head coach, the Bobcats dropped a 28-24 decision to Pearl River Community College. Last year, they fell 20-14 to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
This year, the Bobcats will enter the weekend fresh off a tough, 26-22 loss to Pearl River.
Jones trailed for most of the game, but took the lead at 22-19 with 2:36 remaining when linebacker Demorio Leverett scooped up a Wildcat fumble and ran 15 yards for a touchdown.
However, Pearl River came right back and drove 75 yards in just five plays to score the game-winning touchdown with 1:02 left to play.
Pierce said it was a frustrating way to end the game.
“We had our shot to win and you always hope you have a shot in the fourth quarter,” said Pierce. “We just could not get it done. That’s about it in a nutshell. It was a sickening loss because you never want to lose to your rivals.
“I hate it for the kids and coaches, but we did not get it done. It was a group effort.”
There were several bright spots for the Bobcats in the game.
Leverett ended the contest with 11 tackles and an interception, in addition to the fumble recovery. Defensive end Darrion Wilson returned an interception 18 yards for a score and freshman linebacker Ramon Blakeney had a fumble recovery.
Quarterback Early James threw for 212 yards and accounted for 246 yards of total offense. Tristan Purifoy had three catches for 73 yards, including a 54-yard touchdown pass, and Anthony Jackson had four catches for 41 yards.
But, the Bobcats also lost a pair of fumbles and could not come up with the clutch play when they needed it.
“We just made too many mental errors to win that game,” he said. “You just can’t make mental mistakes in the sixth game of the year that will cost you a game. I am not taking anything away from Pearl River because they have a good football team and they had a great plan against us.
“They did a great job.”
Still, the Bobcats lead the South Division at 3-1 and can make the playoffs if they win their remaining games. They go on the road for a non-division game at Mississippi Delta on Oct. 16 and close regular season play on Oct. 23 at Gulf Coast. Pearl River, Co-Lin and Gulf Coast are each tied for second at 2-1.
“We control our own destiny and that’s a good thing,” Pierce said. “You always want to be able to have some control over what happens to you.”
Southwest (2-3 overall, 2-2 division) has improved significantly since the start of the year. The Bears lost their first three contests to Delta (15-13), Gulf Coast (40-14) and Co-Lin (28-0), but have bounced back to record consecutive victories against East Central (20-9) and Hinds (21-9). They have played one less game than the Bobcats because their game on Sept. 4 vs. Coahoma was postponed by Hurricane Gustav.
The Bears have impressed Pierce.
“They have got a lot of momentum going,” he said. “Southwest is very athletic and they are on a winning streak. We are going to have to play well. I hope our kids now understand that they have to play 60 full minutes.”
The Bears are led by quarterbacks Ryan McCall (6-2, 230) and Joshua Edison (6-2, 215), receivers Jamaal Jackson, Johnny Thomas and Johnell Jefferson, and running back Ricky McGee on offense. Jackson, Thomas and Jefferson have 21 receptions each, which ties them for fifth in the state.
On defense, cornerback Roteddrick Cotton was named the MACJC’s Defensive Player of the Week last week. He had two interceptions, returning one of them 94 yards for a touchdown, in the Bears’ win over Hinds. Cotton is second in the state in interceptions with four.
“They use a spread offense,” Pierce said. “They will throw it a lot and run it some. They are a big ‘screen’ team on offense. They have a little ‘scatback’ quarterback and they have one that can come in and throw it well. So, you really have to prepare for two different types of players.
“Defensively, they are very athletic. They can do some things that can hurt you up front. We just have to get ready to play. If we get ready to play, we will be fine.”
Last year, Southwest led Jones 19-18 and had the ball when cornerback Mark Gray intercepted a pass and scored with 2:26 left to lift the Bobcats to a 25-19 victory.
Pierce believes his team can bounce back from last week’s defeat to Pearl River. He says the Bobcats are focused on Southwest this week.
“We tried to put it behind us,” he said of last week’s loss. “We talked about it Friday and we watched the film. As far as I’m concerned, it’s over. I think we have the type of kids who will battle back and do what they are supposed to do.”
Saturday’s game will be broadcast on WGDQ-93.1 FM and online at HYPERLINK "http://www.jcjc.edu" www.jcjc.edu with Lance Pittman handling the play-by-play and Mark Easley providing color commentary. Air time will be 1:30 p.m.
The 1968 national champion JCJC football team is the 2008 Honor Alumni for Homecoming. Members of the team will be recognized at a luncheon prior to the game.
Next week, JCJC goes to Mississippi Delta at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 16, while Southwest will host Pearl River that same evening.
LAST WEEK’S LONG PLAYS
Longest Run: Early James, Jones, 13 yards; Rashod Henry, Pearl River, 30 yards
Longest Reception: Tristan Purifoy, Jones, 54 yards from Early James; Emil Jones to Desmond Ratliff to Jerry Duncan, Pearl River, 42 yards
Longest Punt: Tyler Caldwell, Jones, 54 yards; Jerry Duncan, Pearl River, 52 yards
Longest Punt Return: Rafael Pollard, Jones, 6 yards; Darnell Jackson, Pearl River, 14 yards
Longest Kickoff Return: Chris Loftin, Jones, 17 yards; Melvin Fennil, Pearl River, 13 yards
Longest Interception Return: Darrion Wilson, Jones, 18 yards; Pearl River, none.
STATEWIDE STATISTICS
Jones is 11th in rushing offense (125.6 ypg) and fourth in rushing defense (94.7 ypg).
Jones is 10th in passing offense (165.0 ypg) and 13th in passing defense (219.3).
Jones is 11th in total offense (290.6 ypg) and ninth in total defense (313.0 ypg).
Jones is first in turnover margin (+8).
Daniel Borne is first in scoring (non-kickers) with 11 touchdowns for 66 points.
Borne is seventh in rushing (71.1 ypg).
Early James is ninth in passing yards (162.8 ypg) and is 11th in passing efficiency (110.9).
Anthony Jackson is eighth in receiving yards (58.1 ypg) and is 14th in receptions (3.3 rpg).
Darius Dear is 20th in receptions (3.0 rpg),
Jacob Chancellor is third in scoring (kickers) with 29 points.
Tyler Caldwell is fifth in punting (41.6 ypp).
Demorio Leverett is 17th in tackles (35 solos, 11 assists), Elliott McGaskin is 18th (34 solos, 8 assists) and Eric Lichtenstein is 23rd (32 solos, 15 assists.
NATIONAL STATISTICS
Jones is 19th in rushing defense, 41st in passing defense and 33rdth in total defense.
Jones is 31st in rushing offense, 22nd in passing offense and 29th in total offense.
Daniel Borne is fifth in the nation in scoring and 29th in rushing.
Early James is 19th in passing yards and ninth in total offense (203.7 ypg).
Anthony Jackson is 29th in pass receptions.
Jacob Chancellor is ninth in scoring (kickers).
Tyler Caldwell is 10th in punting.
Derek Welch and Jamie Bender are tied for 23rd in interceptions.